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Ornamental Pheasant Society



ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT SOCIETY


It was with, a certain amount of trepidation that the O.P.S. decided

to make the showing of Pheasants one of their principal methods of

popularizing Ornamental Pheasants. We will now admit that we had

to work more or less in the dark : we were told by some that Pheasants

would show badly, and would by their repeated attempts to gain their

liberty from the pens, create a very bad Impression rather than a

good one. Our fears were partly allayed last January at the Crystal

Palace Show, but now I am able to give first-hand information on the

great bird show that was held at Glasgow the last few days of October.


I felt greatly honoured in being asked to judge the Pheasant section,

but I do not wish to dwell on this. I was in attendance for the two

days, and I was amazed at the extraordinary interest that was taken

in our Section.


Many people would not believe they were Pheasants, whilst others

were certain they had been painted.


There were twenty-five entries, and this was a most satisfactory

number for a new venture.


With the exception of one very naughty little Golden cock, all

the others appeared perfectly content: one lady remarked to me,

“ The Pheasants seem to be thoroughly enjoying their publicity.”


During this winter we are patronizing eight more large shows,

and if they are as successful as the City of Glasgow Ornithological

Association, then we need have no fears for the future.


I should particularly like to thank the Committee and all officials

of this show for their wonderful hospitality and unfailing courtesy,

this I do on behalf of the O.P.S. They could not have done more for

us, and made me realize to the full what a wonderfully hospitable

country Scotland is.


If any members of our Society have felt nervous about showing

Pheasants, let me most definitely assure them that they need have

no qualms.


I know for a fact that none of the Pheasants shown were prepared

specially for the show at Glasgow, but all with the exception mentioned

behaved themselves in a most admirable manner.


J. M. Grant-Ives.



